What started as a simple trip to the Emergency Room for a kidney stone turned into an almost 2-month ordeal - the 1st time. We live overseas in Japan, and there is only one military hospital serving over 50,000 people. Rachel has been there every step of the way. Somehow, I was fortunate enough to have her 3 out of the 5 times in the ER within the month. It went from pain control to needing to be transferred to a host nation hospital because our hospital could not accommodate my surgery at the time. I had an 8mm kidney stone, partially obstructing my right kidney, with another 3mm stone in my left kidney. Even though I have had several kidney stones in the past, this pain was so much worse. Rachel made sure that I was taken care of, advocated for my care, and treated my son like her own. I had surgery at the host nation hospital, and it ended with major complications that caused me to return to Naval Hospital Okinawa. Rachel was there and knew my story. They wasted no time taking care of me and getting me the help I desperately needed. I am thankful for Rachel and the Emergency Room doctor that night because it finally led to the Urologist having me medically evacuated from Okinawa to Yokosuka Naval Base near Tokyo, Japan. Rachel reassured me that I would get the help I needed. She even checked on me after the surgery to make sure everything went ok.

Fast forward to a night recently, the pain came back, but on my left side, this time, it was much worse than before. When we arrived at the Emergency Room, it was crowded, and my 3-year-old son was holding my hand, telling me everything was going to be ok since I was crying. I was called back to triage within 15 minutes of arriving, and I heard a familiar voice in the triage room next door; it was Rachel! My nurse got me back and got me all setup. She had to use an ultrasound machine to find a vein because, somehow, I became extremely dehydrated. Everyone was moving quickly, and I was off to CT. Within an hour of the CT, I was already on fluids with two different antibiotics started. I knew it was serious when they came to start a second IV on the other arm.

The internal medicine doctor arrived and informed us that the stone was obstructing my left kidney and that I needed immediate surgery. I was also being transferred to the ICU. Not long after, Rachel came in. I, of course, started to cry and explained everything that was happening. She explained why I was being transferred to the ICU, not a regular floor. Rachel helped to calm my nerves, and my son thinks the world of her. She even transferred me to the ICU to ensure a smooth transition.